Program controlled toy winch



p 1965 w. A. SCHOLEFIELD ETAL 3,206,168

PROGRAM CONTROLLED TOY WINCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1963INVENTQZSPJ,

p 1965 w. A. SCHOLEFIELD ETAL PROGRAM CONTROLLED TOY WINCH 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1963 INVENTORS ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,206,168 PROGRAM CONTROLLED TOY WINCH William A. Scholefield,East Haven, and Edward C.

Chandler, New Haven, Conn., assignors to The A. C.

Gilbert Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Maryland Filed Aug.29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,416 Claims. (Cl. 254-185) This invention relatesto the programmed animation of functionally related toys or corelatedparts of the same toy suited to being motivated in selective sequence bya compound winch such as that disclosed in a copending application,Serial No. 297,869, filed July 26, 1963, which is owned by the assigneeof the instant application. The compound Winch referred to comprises aplurality of separately rotatable winch drums incorporated in a unitarytoy structure and driven alternately or in selected sequence by a singleprime mover whose transmitted power can be manually transferred from oneto another of the plural winch drums through selectively shiftabletransmission gear.

An object of the present improvements is to provide for automaticallytransferring the power drive from one winch drum to another inpredetermined sequence at predetermined tirnes by means of a programmingcontroller itself also motivated by the aforesaid single prime mover.

Another object is to vary and predetermine the times of transfer ofdriving power aforesaid by affording a choice of differently speededgear trains through which the programming controller receives power fromthe prime mover.

Another object is to associate the programming controller mechanicallywith a shifter handle in the compound winch of the aforesaid copendingapplication which therein is adapted to be manually operated in theabsence of the present improvements.

Another object is to provide for the detachable cooperative assemblageof the compound Winch, its prime mover and the programming controller ofthese improvements wherein the winch and the controller can bepositioned at opposite sides of the prime mover and both poweredthereby.

A still further object is to eliminate all need of manual attention tothe programmed animation of a toy by expanding the action of theaforesaid winches to a full extent of automation preferably of a cyclicnature so that a series of successive movements constituting theprogrammed action will automatically be repeated ad infinitum withoutmanual attention.

A simple example of an animated toy susceptible of being motivated to afull extent of automation by the herein disclosed embodiment of theinvention is a toy derrick in which the swinging of the derrick boom andthe lifting and dropping of a load carrying hook from the end of theboom constitute the successive movements in the toy that can besubjected to programmed automation as herein provided. Since such actionof a toy is Well understood and is merely representative of a largefield of possible toy actuations by a compound winch the toy is notillustrated herein.

The above and other objects of the invention will become clear in fullerparticular from the following description of a successful embodiment ofthe invention having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toy compound winch, its prime mover and aprogramming controller coop'erably assembled in separable relationshipaccording to the invention, the top housing walls of the compound winchand programming controller being shown as partially broken away toexpose interior mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation showing the assemblage of Patented Sept.14, 1965 FIG. 1 with a front wall of the compound winch partly brokenaway.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken partly in section on thevertical plane 3-3 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows andshowing alternative mountings of a programming cam.

FIG. 4 is a similarly enlarged view taken in section on the verticalplane 4-4 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a view on the same enlarged scale taken in section on thevertical plane 5-5 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a view on the same scale taken in section on the verticalplanes 6-6 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the cyclical oscillatingexcursions of cam disc 78 in the programming controller assuming suchdisc to be viewed as in FIG. 3, the disc being equipped with studstraveling in actuating relation to an electric switch for reversing thedirection of running of the prime mover.

For convenience of reference certain parts of a toy compound Winch unit,herein chosen to illustrate the invention, are designated by the samereference numerals as in the aforesaid copending patent application. Sodesignated the two winch drums 26 and 28 are rotatable respectively infixed and loose relation on a common rotary shaft 20 that has bearingsin spaced frame walls 13 of the toy winch unit. By means of gear teeth30 and 31 carried by drums 26 and 28, respectively, either of thesedrums can be rotated independently at different times by means of aselector pinion 32 that is fast on an axially reciprocative rotary shaft19 having hearings in the same frame Walls 13. In its neutral position,indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, selector pinion 32 fails to drive either ofthe winch drums, but in all the axial positions to which it is shiftedit is continually rotated by the drive pinion 53 with which it isconstantly in mesh.

A shaft 18, also having rotary hearings in the frame walls 13, carries adriving pinion 53 fixed thereon and is detachably secured in coaxialendwise relation to the power take off shaft 51 of a prime mover 50. Asherein shown such prime mover is a unitarily encased toy electric motor111 with speed reduction gear as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and whichis more fully described hereinafter. The winch drums 26 and 28 are woundrespectively with separate draw lines 27 and 29 assumed to run todifferent functionally related parts of an animated toy (not hereinshown) or to functionally related different toys, thus to motivate suchtoys or toy parts in chosen sequence by the winding on or paying off oflines 27 and 29 from the drums in appropriate sequence. Motor 111 can bereversed as to direction of running by remote electric circuit switchingin conventional manner and such motor reversal will reverse thedirection in which the winch drums are rotated.

Each winch drum is restrained against rotation, while the other winchdrum is rotating, by means of circularly spaced detent shouldersafforded by lugs 60 projecting axially from the flat outer face of aflange 58 on drum 26. Similar detent shoulders are afforded by similarlugs 61 on flange 59 of drum 38. Two brake arms 62 and 63 are providedby resilient strips mounted at one end of the framework each arm beingspring-biased to flex toward the other arm and thereby against its winchdrum flange 58 or 59 when selector pinion 32 is in neutral or nondrivingposition, as in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows that when the shaft 19 of selector pinion 32 is shiftedtoward the right into mesh with gear teeth 30 for driving Winch drum 26,a shoulder on shaft 19 flexes the brake arm 62 toward the right andforces it out of the path of detent lugs 60 whereupon drum 26 is free tobe driven by pinion 32. A similar freeing of drum 28 from detention bybrake arm 63 takes place when shaft 19 is shifted to its extreme leftfor placing selector pinion 32 in mesh with the gear teeth 31 on drum28, whereupon brake arm 62 restores itself into the path of detent lugs60 on drum 26 and brake arm 63 is caused to free drum 28 for rotation.

In the aforesaid copending application the shaft 19 is shifted axiallyin its rotary bearings by means of a manually operated shifter lever 36pivotally mounted at 38 on the base 11 of the framework of the compoundwinch unit. Such shifter lever is shown in its neutral position by fulllines in FIG. 2 and by being swung to the right or left to positionsindicated by broken lines will reciprocate shaft 19 lengthwise so as toshift selector pinion 32 from its neutral position in FIG. 1 to eitherof its drum driving positions, at the same time releasing for rotationthe drum that is to be so driven. The operative engagement of anenlargement 23 on shaft 19 by side flanges of the shifter lever 36 forthis purpose is shown in FIG. 1.

In the present improvements the shifter lever 36 is automatically swungto and maintained in any one of its positions indicated in FIG. 2 bypower derived from the same prime mover 50 that motivates the winchdrums 26 and 28. Operatively interposed between the prime mover and theshifter lever 36 there is a programming controller unit designated 70 asa whole.

The programming controller has a power intake shaft 71 detachablyconnected coaxially to an end of the power take-off shaft 51 of motor 50which is on the opposite side of the prime mover from the power inputshaft 18 of the compound winch unit. Shaft 71 is detachably connected tomotor shaft 51 by a coupling 72 and is journaled-in the walls of ahousing 73 of the programming controller and also in an internal lug 74of the housing. At its end inside the housing, intake shaft 71 fixedlycarries the bevel pinion 75 which as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 isconstantly in mesh with a bevel gear 76 fast on a cross shaft 77. Shaft77 is journaled in the upstanding walls of housing 73 and protrudesoutside thereof whereat it carries fixed thereon replaceably a cam disc78 having a cam groove 79. FIGS. 3 and 6 show a follower pin 80 thatconstantly tracks in groove 79 and is carried by an upstanding actuatinglever 81 pivotally mounted at its bottom end by its trunnion 82 which isjournaled in a block 83 that is secured to an external extension 84 ofthe base wall of the follower pin 80 and thereabove is pivotally coupledat 85 to a rigid push-pull link 86 whose opposite end is pivotallycoupled at 87 to the shifter lever 36 of the compound winch. Thus camdisk 78 becomes a program efiecting actuator.

The programming controller is equipped with a secondary or slow speedcross shaft 87 which, like cross shaft 77, is journaled in theupstanding walls of housing 73 and protrudes therefrom to carry outsidethe housing the cam disc'78 when desired as indicated in broken lines inFIG. 3. So applied the cam disc will be rotated at a slower speed thanby shaft 77. This secondary cross shaft 87 fixedly carries a gear 88that is constantly in mesh with and driven by a pinion 89 fixed on crossshaft 77.

The rotary bearings in the housing 73 for all shafts of the programmingcontroller are horizontally split bearings which become opened byremoving the cap 90 from the body of the housing. The cap is secured tothe body by screws 91. Housing 73 is secured to an underlying base plate92 by screws 93.

Referring now to the prime mover unit 50, FIGS. 1, 4 and show that theaforesaid power take-off shaft 51 is but one of three optionally useablepower take-off" shafts in a train of speed reduction gearing enclosed bythe housing 100 of the prime mover 50. This gearing includes the drivengear 101 fixed on shaft 51 in mesh with a driving pinion 102 on anintermediate power take-ofl shaft 103 which fixedly carries a drivenhigh speed shaft 107 to which is afiixed the worm wheel 108 driven by aworm thread 189 cut in the shaft 110 of a toy electric motor 111supported fixedly in the housing 100. Any one of the differently speededpower take-off shafts 51, 103 or 107 can be coupled to intake shaft 18of the compound winch unit and/or to the intake shaft 71 of theprogramming controller 70 either on the same or opposites of the primemover inasmuch as all of the power take-off shafts of the prime moverproject at both sides of its housing 100.

If the toy to be animated by draw lines 27 or 29 of the compound winchunit is, for instance, a derrick having a swingable boom from which issuspended a load carrying hook in which the swinging of the boom tochange its lateral reach and the lifting and lowering of the hook arecaused separately and sequentially by the take-in and pay-off of drawlines 27, 29 by the winch drums 26 and 28, the components of the entireapparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be removably fastened to a commonall-over base plate 112 by screws 113 and thus be positioned fixedly inrelation to one another. Thus mounted, the complete apparatus will bestationed in the vicinity of the toy that is to be animated, or in'thecase of a wheeled toy or half-track, ground working, model vehicle, canbe carried on the vehicle itself. By substituting a drive belt trainedabout the winch drum serving as a pulley and about a vehicle carriedpulley connected to drive the traction wheels or half-track of thevehicle, the vehicle can be used to perform reciprocative travel as oneof the related movements of the animated toy.

In operation a cam disc 78 having a chosen shape of cam groove 79 willbe placed either on high speed shaft 77 or on low speed shaft 87 of theprogramming controller to determine the timing and the sequence of actuation of the shift lever 36 of the compound winch unit which actuationis thus made automatic by power take-01f of the prime mover 50. Thewinch drums will be driven in reverse directions at will by reversingthe direction of running of motor 111. When either draw line 27 or 29 ispayed off by the turning of its winch drum in suitable direction theslack in the line will be taken up by any tendency of the animated toypart to return to the position from which it has been displaced by theprevious drawing in of the line.

In FIGS. 1 and 7, 121 is a double-throw type of electric motor reversingsnap switch which is electrically connected in any well known way in acircuit containing a source of current (not shown) and the motor 111 ofthe prime mover 50. Switch 121 may be a toggle switch in which snapaction is effected by the overcentering spring 117. Switch 121 iselectrically connected in an electric circuit that contains a source ofcurrent (not shown) and also the motor 111 and operates to reverse thedirection of running of the motor 111 when a convcntional actuatinghandle of the toggle mechanism is flipped from right to left or viceversa in FIG. 7. The switch handle 120 carries a crank pin 122 and ispivotally mounted at 123 in a switch housing 124 fastened to the baseplate 92 of the programming controller.

I To afford a full extent of automation wherein all need for manualattention to the programmed animation of a toy is eliminated, FIG. 7shows the provision of two, studs 118 and 119 fixedly projecting fromcam disc 78 and traveling with the cam disc in a circular path such thaton alternate excursions of the cam disc in opposite rotary directions adifferent one of said studs encounters the switch operating handle 120and flips said handle sequentially in respectively opposite directionsto reverse the direction of running of the motor 111 in the prime moverThe aforesaid cam groove 79 in disc 78 may be given a wide variety ofshapes within the principles of the invention depending upon thedirection, the sequence, the repetition and the relative duration ofautomatic winding and unwinding movements desired of the toy animatingcompound winches 26 and 28. To illustrate the operating result of onepossible shape of cam groove upon an illustrative animated toy, FIG 7designates by reference letters certain points in the curved course ofthe cam groove 79 5 at or between which there will occur certain eventsconsequent upon continuous turning of the cam disc first in one and thenin the opposite direction as motor 111 continually rotates first in oneand then in the opposite direction. 10

Starting with the full line position of parts in FIG. 7,

We shall assume that cam stud 119 has just flipped switch handle 122toward the right to its full line position and that cam stud 118simultaneously occupies its full line position in FIG. 7 as a result ofprevious counter-clockwise rotation of the cam. The switch handle willhave slightly overrun the driving push of stud 119 because of theovercentering action of the toggle spring 117 in the switch. Reversal ofthe running direction of motor 111 is assumed to have just taken placebecause of the snap .20 action of the switch.

Cam disc 78 will now begin to rotate clockwise with the cam follower inits full line position 80 occupying the cam groove 79. At this timelever 81 through connecting link 86 has positioned the selector pinion32 in the compound Winch in mesh with winch drum 26. Drum 28 remainsstationary being locked against rotating by the brake arm 63. Thefollowing actions will take place upon clockwise rotation of the camdisc 78 as a result of certain specified points or zones in the camgroove traversing the cam 30 follower 80.

0 am Follower 'Iraversed by Cam Efiect on Shift Lever Performance 0!Effect on Toy Groove and Switch Winch Drum Derrick Points and Zones A-BNone Drum 26 winds Lifts load carrying e 27. hook toward end 40 of boom,picks up load at one location. B-C Swings shift lever 81 None None.

to left. C-D None Drum 28 winds Swings derrick line 29. boom up toreduce distance of reach laterally. 4.5 At D... Stud 118 flips NoneNone.

switch handle 121 to left-reverses motor. D-C None Drum 28 pays Letsderrick boom out line 29. swing down under own weight to extend distanceof reach laterally. C-B Swings shift lever 81 None N one.

to right. l3-A None Drum 26 will Lowers load carrypay out line ing hookfrom 27. end of boom to deposit load in difierent location. At "A...Stud 119 flips switch None None.

handle 120 to right -reverses motor. Cam excursion then repeats.

With the apparatus of this invention in hand many variations in theaction of animated toys can automatically be caused and automaticallyrepeated ad infinitum and increased in number by the addition of morewinch drums so that the possible elaborateness of automation in animatedtoys becomes unlimited, Therefore the appended claims are not limited tothe precise number and arrangement of components herein illustrated anddescribed but their coverage is intended to extend to all variationswhich come within the principles of the invention as defined by theclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A program controlled toy compound winch for automatically actuatingrelated parts of animated toys in predetermined sequence atpredetermined times comprising, a toy compound winch unit including aplurality of winch drums adapted to take in and pay off separatedraw-lines for actuating said toy parts, a prime mover, a variable powertransmission operative to impart the power of said prime mover to eitherof said winch drums, shift means operative upon said power transmissionto transfer the deliverance of power thereby from one to another of saidwinch drums, a time consuming programming controller mechanism separateand apart from said winch unit, a coupling separate from said winch unitconnecting said prime mover drivingly to said controller mechanismindependently of said power transmission, and linkage drivinglyconnecting said controller mechanism to said shift means independentlyof said power transmission.

2. A program controlled toy compound winch as defined in claim 1, inwhich the said shift means is a reciprocative member mounted andconnected to be moved back and forth by unidirectional motion of saidprogramming controller mechanism.

3. A program controlled toy compound which as defined in claim 2, inwhich the said programming controller mechanism includes aunidirectionally rotating program elfecting actuator, and linkagereciprocated by said actuator connected to reciprocate the said shiftmeans.

4. A program controlled toy compound winch as defined in claim 2, inwhich the said programming controller mechanism has a plurality ofaccessible shafts rotating at respectively differing speeds, each ofsaid shafts being adapted to carry and rotate the said program effectingactuator.

5. A program controlled toy compound winch as defined in claim 3, inwhich the said program effecting actuator is a rotary cam, and the saidlinkage includes a reciprocative follower mounted and arranged to bemotivated to and fro by said earn.

6. A program controlled toy compound winch as defined in claim 1, inwhich the said prime mover is positioned between the said Winch unit andthe said programming controller mechanism and has power take offfacilities on each of its opposite sides operatively connectedrespectively to said winch unit and to said programming controllermechanism.

7. A program controlled toy compound winch as de- 1 fined in claim 6, inwhich the said prime mover has additional power take off facilitiesrotating at respectively different speeds and receptive to operableconnection thereto either of the said compound Winch or of the saidprogramming controller mechanism.

8. A program controlled toy compound winch for automatically actuatingrelated parts of animated toys in predetermined sequence atpredetermined times comprising, a toy compound winch unit including aplurality of winch drums adapted to take-in and pay-off separatedraw-lines for actuating said toy parts, a prime mover, a variable powertransmission operative to impart the power of said prime mover to eitherof said winch drums, shift means operative upon said power transmissionto transfer the deliverance of power thereby from one to another of saidwinch drums, a time consuming programming controller mechanism connectedto be motivated by said prime mover and connected to actuate said shiftmeans, said prime mover including a reversible electric motor operativethrough the said power transmission to drive either of the said winchdrums in one rotary direction whereby to wind in on its said draw lineand in the other rotary direction whereby to pay off the same draw line,and a motor reversing electric switch mechanically related to the saidprogramming controller mechanism and electrically related to the saidmotor in a manner to stop running of said motor in one direction andrestart running of said motor in the opposite direction at apredetermined point in the operation of said controller mechanism.

9. A program cont-rolled compound winch for fully automating an animatedtoy comprising, plural toy motivating draw lines, plural winchesrespectively operative to wind on and pay oil said draw lines singly andse-' quentially, a continually running prime mover including areversible electric motor mechanically connected to rotate said winchesin opposite directions corresponding respectively to the direction ofrunning of said electric motor, a programming transmission operativelyinterposed between said motor and said winches including meansautomatically to shift the drive of said motor from one to the other ofsaid winches, and an electric switch connected in circuit with saidmotor to stop, reverse and restart the running of thereof, andconnections causing said switch to be actuated mechanically atpredetermined times by the operation of said transmission, whereby toeffect continuous repetitive cycles of performance of said winches anddraw lines and the toy motivated thereby.

10. The combination of three separately housed cooperative toy unitsgrouped in side by side positions for automatically actuating relatedparts of animated toys,

one of said units comprising a toy winch including a winch drum with apower transmission through which said drum is motivated, another of saidunits comprising a prime mover connected to power said Winch throughsaid transmission, and the other of said units comprising a programmingcontroller mechanism powered by said prime mover, and shift meansoutside the housings of said units operatively relating said controllingmechanism to said transmission in a manner to vary the application ofpower thereby to said winch drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,093,348 3/37Merkle 310 s3 2,705,126 3/55 Addicks 254 173

1. A PROGRAM CONTROLLED TOY COMPOUND WINCH FOR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATINGRELATED PARTS OF ANIMATED TOYS IN PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE ATPREDETERMINED TIMES COMPRISING, A TOY COMPOUND WINCH UNIT INCLUDING APLURALITY OF WINCH DRUMS ADAPTED TO TAKE IN AND PAY OFF SEPARATEDRAW-LINES FOR ACTUATING SAID TOY PARTS, A PRIME MOVER A VARIABLE POWERTRANSMISSION OPERATIVE TO IMPART THE POWER OF SAID PRIME MOVER TO EITHEROF SAID WINCH DRUMS, SHIFT MEANS OPERATIVE UPON SAID POWER TRANSMISSIONTO TRANSFER THE DELIVERANCE OF POWER THEREBY FROM ONE TO ANOTHER OF SAIDWINCH DRUMS, A TIME CONSUMING PROGRAMMING CONTROLLER MECHANISM SEPARATEAND APART FROM SAID WINCH UNIT, A COUPLING SEPARATE FROM SAID WINCH UNITCONNECTING SAID PRIME MOVER DRIVINGLY TO SAID CONTROLLER MECHANISMINDEPENDENTLY OF SAID POWER TRANSMISSION, AND LINKAGE DRIVINGLYCONNECTING SAID CONTROLLER MECHANISM TO SAID SHIFT MEANS INDEPENDENTLYOF SAID POWER TRANSMISSION.